Chieka predicts Godwin to star
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has labelled exciting Western Force centre Kyle Godwin the future of Australian rugby and expects him to have an explosive year heading into the World Cup.
It is a huge weight for the 22-year-old to carry but Cheika is confident Godwin will cope.
Cheika also predicted international futures for second-rower Adam Coleman and bruising back-rower Angus Cottrell.
Godwin's international path has been hit by injury in the past two seasons, but Cheika took him on last year's Wallabies northern hemisphere tour. He did not play but Cheika believes the experience will make him hungry for more.
"He is some special player Kyle Godwin," Cheika said. "He's going to be one of the players of the future of Australian rugby without a doubt. He's going to be one of the best going forward.
"Kyle's going to have an interesting season. I have a feeling it is going to be a big, big year for him.
"He's a player in a very competitive area and that is going to push him right to the top."
Godwin started his career at fly-half but Force coach Michael Foley moved him to inside centre two years ago. This season he will play a dual role, moving to outside centre when required.
Cheika also sees him in the outside role.
"At Wallaby level he's probably looking more at the second centre position but it won't go against him at all if he plays in first centre for the Force," Cheika said.
"At the end of the day football is made up of a certain set of skills: catch, pass, tackle, run hard, communication, reading the game. Kyle has got them all and he is aggressive as well. That is something I like."
When Godwin makes his Wallabies debut he will be the first home-grown player to come through the Force Academy and reach the peak of Australian rugby.
He was sidelined in 2011 with a shoulder injury and needed a shoulder reconstruction in 2013. Last year, a posterior cruciate ligament injury ruled him out of Australia's 3-0 whitewash of France and the Rugby Championship, but after just three Perth Spirit games in the NRC Cheika took him on the Wallabies tour.
Coleman was snaffled from Cheika at the Waratahs.
He was in the Force 2013 pre-season wider training group but went back to the Tahs and made his debut against the Force before Foley tempted him back last year.
Cheika admitted he was a player he had wanted to keep.
"We tried to keep Adam at the Waratahs, no doubt," he said."
"Michael (Foley) has been speaking very positively about what he's been bringing at the moment and lock (second row) is a position where Australia is looking for men to stand up.
"He has a lot of aggression and enjoys playing that way."
Cheika said Cottrell would likely have been selected for the European tour had he not broken a leg in May.
"Cottrell would have been (in) if had had not been injured and I'll be interested to see how he comes back," Cheika said.
